Fennel
To Sir Will. D’avenant, Upon his two first Books of Gondibert, Finish’d before his Voyage to America by Ed. Waller
chosen by Parker
Thus the wise Nightingale that leaves her home,
Her native Wood, when Storms and winter comes,
Pursuing constantly the chearfull Spring
To forreign Groves does her old Musick bring:
The drooping Hebrews banish’d Harps unstring
At Babylon, upon the Willows hung;
Yours sounds aloud, and tells us you excell
No less in Courage, than in Singing well;
Whilst unconcern’d you let your Countrey know,
They have impov’rished themselves, not you;
Who with the Muses help can mock those Fates
Which threaten Kingdoms, and disorder States.
So Ovid, when from Caesar’s rage be fled,
The Roman Muse to Pontus with him led,
Where he sosung, that we through Pitie’s Glafs,
See Nero milder than Augustus was.
Hereafter such in thy behalf shall be
Th’indulgent censure of Posteritie.
To banish those who with such art can sing,
Is a rude crime which its own curse does bring:
Ages to come shall ne’r know how they fought,
Nor how to Love their present Youth be taught.
E 2
This is to thy Self. Now to thy matchless Book,
Wherein those few that can with Judgement look,
May find old Love in pure fresh Language told,
Like new stampt Coyn made out of Angel gold.
Such truth in Love as th’antique world did know,
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